VIR: Michael Shank Racing qualifying report

(Alton, VA) 8 October 05-- Michael Shank Racing's two Daytona Prototypes
will start Sunday's VIR 400 from eighth and nineteenth on the grid after
the qualifying session was cancelled due to the rainy weather conditions
which have persisted at ...

(Alton, VA) 8 October 05-- Michael Shank Racing's two Daytona Prototypes
will start Sunday's VIR 400 from eighth and nineteenth on the grid after
the qualifying session was cancelled due to the rainy weather conditions
which have persisted at Virginia International Raceway in advance of
round thirteen of the Rolex Sports Car Series.

The announcement was received with disappointment by the team, which was
hoping to get the chance to show their speed in the qualifying session
after both cars posted times in the top five in the morning session.

"I understand why they (Grand American) made this decision, but we would
have of course had the chance to qualify because both of our cars are
really good," said team owner Mike Shank "Starting by points also really
penalizes Mark (Patterson) and Oswaldo (Negri) because they have only
entered a few events, so there are a lot of slow cars that they are
going to have to start behind tomorrow."

The Mears Motor Coach Machine of Mike Borkowski and Paul Mears Jr. was
fourth quickest in the morning practice session with a fast lap time of
2:03.842-seconds on the 3.27-mile circuit, and the sister Flight Options
Lexus-Riley of Patterson and Negri were just a shade behind in fifth
with a best lap of 2:03.107-second.

"It's a shame that we didn't get a chance to qualify today," said Negri.
"We know we could have been in the top-ten or even better, so we will
have some work to do tomorrow. But the Flight Options car is great
and it's a long track so hopefully Mark can make up some ground early
and we can finish well like we did at the Glen (where Patterson and
Negri scored their debut Rolex podium in just their third Rolex start
together)."